Lake depth chart
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25-acre lake near Cook County. The lake tops out around 17 ft. The chart is a model: real shoreline, published maximum depth, interpolated in between. A planning tool, never a navigation product. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Traced from the shoreline, Shoe runs 25 acres with 1 miles of edge. Index 1.5 on the shoreline: a few honest points and pockets, nothing labyrinthine. 75% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. The basin spans about 0.4 mi end to end and 0.2 mi across at its widest. The water lies in Cook County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Squash, 0 mi northwest of here.
Start shallow in spring: brook trout sit in 2 to 15 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 5 to 17 ft; cold water stacks them in 3 to 17 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 14 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm until the fish tell you otherwise.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (14 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Deep basin (14 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: splake in 3 to 17 ft. The depth story barely changes: 5 to 17 ft through summer, 4 to 17 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 8 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a trolled spoon at the thermocline or a white tube jig (deep) gets it done.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Small casting spoon (gold/orange), Inline spinner |
| Summer | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (8 ft) | Trolled spoon at the thermocline, White tube jig (deep) |
| Fall | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 4 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 45 ft | dawn | Break off the point (8 ft) | Jigging spoon tipped with minnow head, Small white tube |
Spring yellow perch on Shoe hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 5 to 17 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 17 ft. The chart's best answer is Shallow bay flat — weed flat, 3 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning. The summer box starts with a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (14 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (14 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 5 to 17 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (14 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
The chart marks 4 structure features on Shoe; the deepest is Deep basin at about 14 ft.
| Date | Species | Count | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* | Brook Trout (fingerlings) | 2,000 | — |
| 2024* | Splake (fingerlings) | 2,520 | — |
* Approximate date (agency reports month or season only). Source: Minnesota DNR LakeFinder stocking reports, retrieved 2026-09-11.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Minnesota waters are set by the Minnesota DNR — and special regulations can apply to Shoe specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Minnesota fishing regulations →
Shoe is about 17 ft (5 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target brook trout, splake, yellow perch on Shoe.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for splake in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For brook trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Yes — per Minnesota DNR LakeFinder stocking reports records, Shoe was most recently stocked 2025 with 2,000 brook trout (fingerlings). The full stocking history is listed above.
Fishing on Shoe is regulated by the Minnesota DNR. Check the official Minnesota regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Squash 0 mi · Peanut 1 mi · Turnip 1 mi · Carrot 1 mi · Parsnip 2 mi · Cucumber 2 mi · Onion 2 mi · Jim 2 mi · Tomato 2 mi · Kraut 2 mi · Kiowa 2 mi · North Shady 3 mi
See how Shoe stacks up: best yellow perch lakes in Minnesota · best brook trout lakes in Minnesota · best splake lakes in Minnesota
More water nearby: Cook County fishing maps (351 charts). Browse all Minnesota fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.